0

PAN-AMERICAN SEIWA KAI

NEWSLETTER

全米誠和会

社内報

Dedicated to Traditional Goju Ryu Karatedo ISSUE 9: November / December 2014

Current and previous issues of the USA Seiwa Kai Newsletter can be found

online at http://www.greatlakesseiwakai.com/usa-seiwa-kai-newsletters.html

Send submissions to the USA Seiwa Kai Newsletter to

greatlakesseiwakai@gmail.com

Seiwa Kai Founder: Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

Seiwa Kai President: Seiichi Fujiwara, Hanshi

Vassie Naidoo: Seiwa Kai Director Appointed by Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

Seiwa Kai Canada: USA Seiwa Kai Officers: Vassie Naidoo: President Isao Yabunaka: President

Des Tuck: Vice President Peter Brown: Seiwa Kai Alberta

Jim Pounds: Secretary

Brian Burdick: Treasurer

Seiwa Kai Mexico

Marcos Madrid: President Goshukan Seiwa Kai Canada

Vassie Naidoo: Liaison and Craig Vokey: President

Official Representative for Latin America Vassie Naidoo: Liaison

Appointed by Shuji Tasaki, Hanshi

全

米

誠

和

会

全

米

誠

和

会

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Pan-American Seiwa Kai; Editor’s Note – Page 2

2. North American Seiwa Kai Seminar in Santa Monica 2014 – Page 3

3. Sanchin verses Tensho Breathing by Vassie Naidoo– Page 11

4. Quitting is not an Option: By Jim Pounds – Page 12

5. Goju Ryu Training on Santa Monica Beach at Sunrise: By Brian Burdick – Page 14

6. Styles Verses Lineages in the development of Karatedo: By Mark Cramer – Page 16

7. Seiwa Kai Humor – Page 22

8. Seiwa Kai Seminar in New York, NY: By Kevin Moskie – Page 23

9. Looking Back and Looking Forward: Japan 2014 and 2015: By Leo Lipinski – Page 25

2

FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR

A New Name

An Expanded Mission

Pan-American Seiwa Kai is a multi-

organizational association of several Seiwa

Kai Groups in the United States, Canada,

Mexico, and Columbia. With an active

membership of around 2500 people and

some of the best teachers in the world, our

organizations have produced some of the

most talented karate-ka in the Americas.

Additionally, some of our members are

officials, coaches, and athletes with their

country’s National Governing Body for

Sport Karatedo. Most importantly, we all

share a love for the practice of traditional

Goju Ryu Karatedo, and we all share a

comradery which transcends national

boundaries. We are most certainly the Pan-

American Seiwa Kai.

Beginning with this issue, we will present the news and highlight the achievements of all of the

Seiwa Kai organizations and members in the Americas. The goal is to bring all of our Pan-

American Seiwa Kai family a bit closer together.

Whereas I hope that you have been enjoying and will continue to enjoy the content of the Pan-

American Seiwa Kai Newsletter, it is a bimonthly publication and consequently has an inherent

timeliness limitation. The quickest way to receive accurate information about Seiwa Kai events is

through either of the Facebook pages listed below. It is free. It is easy, and I urge you to join. Just

use the links below.

SEIWAKAI PANAMERICA

https://m.facebook.com/groups/568109426595302

SEIWAKAI INTERNATIONAL

https://m.facebook.com/groups/237639003007108

3

Pan-American Seiwa Kai Seminar in Santa Monica 2014

Nearly 100 people from the United States, Canada, and Mexico attended this year’s Pan-American

Seiwa Kai Seminar in Santa Monica, California. The seminar began on Friday November 7th and

continued through Sunday, November 9th. The thirteen hours of intense training in kihon, kata, and

kumite left everyone physically exhausted but mentally determined to continue their training once

they returned home. If everyone who attended the seminar remembers one tenth of what was taught

during these three days and then practices it, they will make tremendous progress.

The seminars were taught by Seiwa Kai President and Chief Instructor, Seiichi Fujiwara, who

demonstrated his mastery as a teacher in every aspect of the seminar. His technical excellence was

unsurpassed. His insight into making complex information comprehendible to people of various

grades and ages was truly amazing, while his demonstration of kata and bunkai was aptly described

by Sensei Jim Pounds as “lethal beauty.” Moreover, the kumite drills that were taught by Fujiwara,

Hanshi unveiled the true nature of Goju Ryu with its deadly close-in fighting techniques and

circular movements.

The seminar, the JKF Goju Kai Shinsa (examination), the Seiwa Kai Shinsa, and the banquets

were all superbly organized by Shihan Vassie Naidoo, who is President of USA Seiwa Kai, and

Director of Seiwa Kai International.

It must also be noted that Tak Hamabata Sensei, Katsuhide Kinjo Sensei, two of our close friends

from Eibukan Goju Ryu Karatedo, attended the seminar and assisted with the JKF Goju Kai

Shinsa. Additionally, Kay Sakaue Sensei from this group provided us with excellent translations

of Fujiwara’s explanations.

Below: group photo at the Santa Monica YWCA where the majority of the training occurred

4

Sanchin Beach Training

Sanchin Surf Training

5

Small Group Photo:

Mr. Fujiwara with members of the Visalia, Bakersfield, and Toledo Dojos who have friends for many years

On the next few pages, are photos from some of the other seminars

and events of the various Pan-American Seiwa Kai associations that

have taken place across the continent in 2014.

6

Seiwa Kai Goshukan Canada, October 2014

New York Seiwa Kai Seminar October 2014

7

Goshukan Seiwa Kai Canada Seminar Toronto, Canada May 2014

Reishiki at the Goshukan Seiwa Kai Canada Seminar in Toronto

Great Lakes Seiwa Kai of Ohio and Michigan Seminar May, 2014

8

Seiwa Kai Canada Seminar Vancouver, BC April 11-13th 2014

Yabunaka Shihan Celebrating 25 Years of Teaching in Canada

9

USA Seiwa Kai Instructors’ Seminar Santa Monica, CA April 2014

Seiwa Kai Seminar Mexico November 2014

10

Seiwa Kai Mexico with New JKF Goju Kai and Seiwa Kai Certttificates

11

Sanchin versus Tensho Breathing

Ho wa goju no donto su

The way of inhaling and exhaling is hard and soft.

Chojun Miyagi selected the name Goju Ryu from one of the eight poems of Bubishi – The way of

inhaling and exhaling is hard and soft (Ho wa goju no donto su). The differences between the hard

and soft manners of breathing are typified in the kata of Sanchin and Tensho. It is important to

realize that these two types of breathing are also found in all of the other Goju Ryu Kata.

To better understand what is meant by The way of inhaling and exhaling is hard and soft, let us

see what the President and Chief Instructor of USA Seiwa Kai has to say:

By Vassie Naidoo

Sanchin breathing is more powerful and smoother than Tensho

breathing. In Sanchin, you exhale all of the way pushing all of your

breath out and adding kime at the end of the technique. You keep your

chin in and your latissimus dorsi (lats) and abdominal muscles tense.

Your inner thigh muscles are also tense to stop a groin kick from

coming upward into the groin. However, your ankles are kept relaxed

so that you are rooted to the floor. When executing mawashi-uke and

shote-ate, you move with the typical Goju Ryu “hand-foot-hand”

synchronization and push with the elbow rather than with the hand.

Whereas Sanchin focuses on an in-and-out type of breathing, Tensho gives

a bit more focus to inhaling. The inhale breath is divided into three parts.

The first part is small. The next part is larger, and the last part is the largest.

The exhale in Tensho kata is also different from Sanchin. Instead of exhaling

all of the way, you exhale about one half of the way and then compress your

breath.

Hopefully this succinct description will help explain what is meant by Ho

wa goju no donto su or The way of inhaling and exhaling is hard and soft.

12

QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION

By Jim Pounds

“Look ahead. You are not expected to

complete the task; neither are you

permitted to lay it down.”

The Talmud

If you train in the martial arts, there is a

very real chance you will be injured sooner

or later. What to do? Accept it and move

forward. It is an art of kicks and punches,

sweeps and throws, joint locks and choke

outs. With partners training at full speed

and power mere millimeters from one

another, the slightest miscalculation of

distancing can result in a punch penetrating

¼” rather than stopping ¼” short of the

intended target. That mere ¼” can mean the difference between a broken nose or an applaudable

show of kime (focus). It happens.

As practitioners we must be clear about two things. First, we must accept as fact that martial arts

contain an element of risk; and second, we must be responsible for our own techniques. Over

contact shows bad form and poor kime on our part. If we subscribe to that responsibility, the

chance of over-contact is rare and is always accidental. When you are the hitter, all you can say

is “I’m sorry” and resume when your partner is suitably recovered.

Conversely, if you are on the receiving end of the over-contact and you know your partner to be

responsible for his kime, you can be certain it was an accident. Your responsibility therefore is to

continue. Even if you are in pain. In kumite, part of the value of contact is that it teaches us the

ability to assess the damage and control it. The value of taking the occasional hard shots is that

we learn to compartmentalize pain and keep going. This is an invaluable building block of

confidence. Fights I’ve been in or witnessed showed me that many times the fight was over the

moment someone was hit. This occurred because the victim of the hit became overwhelmed and

disoriented by the shock of the blow, or allowed the pain to be focal, and was therefore unable or

unwilling to mount a defense. My Sensei would say that they “lost their mind.” Kumite allows

us practice in not losing our minds under the onslaught of pain and stress. Better we learn this in

the dojo than in the street.

13

These injuries can actually make us better overall fighters. For instance, a broken toe or badly

jammed finger may force us to fight in an opposite stance, perhaps presenting our “weaker” side

to our opponent in order to protect an injured rib or extremity. Although it is awkward at first it

will teach us to utilize both sides of our bodies and all of our weapons. Knowing how to protect

an injury and persevere is essential to self-defense.

Knowing how to get up “off

the canvas” and continue a

bout is the biggest

confidence booster and is

also demoralizing to an

opponent. So next time you

get knocked flat or hit harder

than usual, train yourself to

continue – even if for just

one more clash. You can’t

quit in the street so don’t

accept it in the dojo either.

Editor’s Note: We are

sometimes knocked flat and

have to “get up off of the

canvas” by something other

than another person. Time

will get the better of all of

us, and we may sustain injuries that are caused by many years of use and overuse. We are then

“knocked flat” when a surgeon informs us that we need to have a joint repaired or replaced.

Many of the more senior Seiwa Kai members have faced or are facing the situation of being

knocked to the ground by one of these surgical procedures. We all need to react to these

situations in the same manner as we reacted to being knocked down by another person; we need

to get back up and face that opponent again.

Whereas Time is an adversary whom we cannot defeat, we can still get back up, continue our

training, and face “Time” – that grim-faced opponent. With a smile on our face, we can look

Time in the eye and say “I’m ready for more.” We may have to adjust our training, but quitting

is not an option.

“Look ahead. You are not expected to complete the task; neither are you permitted to lay it

down.” Look always toward the future. Even though we will never completely learn Karatedo,

we can never give up the quest. Quitting is not an option.

14

Goju Ryu Training on Santa Monica Beach at Sunrise

By Brian Burdick Sr.

Goju Ryu Beach Training

at sunrise. The group

arrived as if they just woke

up. They calmly met

together and moved out to

the water. A run down the

beach 5-6 life guard stands

and an ab workout fired

everyone right up. Vassie

Shihan provided kata

training in the ocean,

providing a new lesson to

many! It was a great day in

all!

15

When you think that it is too difficult to accomplish something in karate, say nothing and practice

10,000 repetitions.

16

STYLES VERSUS LINEAGES

In the DEVELOPMENT of TRADITIONAL KARATEDO

Karate Kenkyukai: Karate Study Group:

Back Row (L-R) Shinpan Shiroma, Choryo Maeshiro, Choshin Chibana, Genwa Nakasone.

Front Row: Chotoku Kyan, Kentsu Yabu, Chomo Hanashiro, Chojun Miyagi

© Copyright Property of Mark Cramer

17

Many writers have traced the development of karate through masters who taught styles which were

loosely referred to as Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Tomari-te. These terms were used to identify the

martial arts of Okinawa with the city in which they had supposedly originated. However, careful

research indicates that these three so-called “styles” were never styles of karate at all. Instead, they

were terms which were invented because of the social-political conditions of the time.

As we know, references to karate as Chinese-hand met stiff anti-Chinese sentiment after Okinawa

became an official Prefecture within the Empire of Japan. In fact the government of Japan was

“doing everything possible to turn Okinawans away from China and toward Japan. In this effort,

as later, there was often confusion about what was Chinese and what was Okinawan, which

contributed to the government's zeal for eradicating what were said to be ‘harmful local customs’

through a heavy-handed campaign called akushu haishi (bad habit elimination).”[i] Consequently,

it becomes easy to see why the people of Okinawa selected new terms which made no reference

to China. In order to prevent the possibility of karate’s elimination as a “bad habit” and in order to

ensure karate’s future survival, it was made to appear as if karate were of Okinawan origin. Hence,

names which disassociated karate from China were selected, and names which associated karate

with cities in Okinawa (Naha, Shuri, and Tomari) briefly came into use.[ii]

However, researchers tell us that one should be very careful not to confuse these name changes

with any actual styles of karate: “This method of classification has led to the mistaken view that

these three styles were in some important way separate from one another but, in fact, are derived

from the same sources [the Chinese martial arts]. It is also true that the various practitioners of te

freely learned from one another when they had the opportunity, so mixing the methods was the

natural way.”[iii] It is also important to note that these three cities are all within a few short miles

from one another, and this would have made it quite convenient for students of karate to get

together and train with others who lived in one of the nearby cities.

One of the best documented examples of the Okinawan masters from the various cities training

together, learning from one another, and sharing their methods with one another was the Karate

Kenkyukai, a study group which was dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Okinawan

karate: “This group included Gichin Funakoshi, Chojo Oshiro, Chomo Hanashiro, Chotoku Kyan,

Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, Go Ken Ki (Chinese Master of White Crane Boxing), Kentsu

Yabu, Chuhatso [Juhatsu] Kyoda, and Moden Yabiku. This group lasted until 1930 when it ceased

to exist as members were involved with their own students.” [iv] It is important to note that some

karate teachers, such as Mr. Choshin Chibana, taught in both Naha and Shuri.[v] Consequently,

with the karate masters from the various cities training together, sharing their knowledge with each

other, and teaching in more than one of these locations, it becomes difficult to maintain that there

was anything like three separate styles of Okinawan karate called Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Tomari-

te.

18

Moreover, it is obvious that explaining the development of karate by tracing it through Naha-te,

Shuri-te, and Tomari-te would be explaining the development of karate through styles which never

really existed, but which were instead an artificial invention the nationalistic interests of Kokutai.

Thus, tracing karate’s history by this method will only lead to a misunderstanding about the true

nature of karate’s origins and development.

The most accurate method for studying the development of karate is also the least complicated and

the most logical. This method requires that we trace karate back to its Chinese origins and then

proceed forward to recent times. In this manner, we will bypass the artificial classification system

which was devised to promote nationalistic sentiments and to obscure the true nature of karate’s

Chinese origin. Most importantly, by employing this methodology we can trace karate back to its

earliest known teachers and then trace these lineages forward to the development of modern styles

of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate-do.

LINEAGES in the DEVELOPMENT OF KARATE

When we trace karate back to its earliest masters in Okinawa, two lineages emerge out of the

historical research, and these linages have little to do with whether a karate master lived in the city

of Naha, Shuri, or Tomari. These two lineages led to the development of the overwhelming

majority of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate which is taught in the world today. This

includes the modern styles of Shorin Ryu, Shotokan, Shindo Jinen Ryu, Wado Ryu, Shito Ryu,

Ryuei Ryu and Goju Ryu.

While researching these lineages, we must bear in mind that none of the karate in Okinawa was

passed down to subsequent generations unaltered from the manner which it was learned from the

Chinese. The Okinawans synthesized what they had learned from the Chinese with local martial

traditions to produce karate – the unique martial art of this Ryukyu Island.

LINEAGE ONE – SAKAGAWA and MATSUMURA

Ko Shang Kun (Kushanku) reportedly came to Okinawa as an envoy from China and developed a

cadre of students whom he instructed in the Chinese martial arts. It is frequently noted by some

researchers that Kakumi Tode (Chinese-Hand) Sakugawa was one of these students.

Furthermore, it is reported by some researchers that Sokon Bushi (Warrior) Matsumura trained

under Mr. Sakugawa. If this connection is correct, it establishes a lineage that proceeds forward to

all of the modern styles of Shorin Ryu, as well as Shotokan, Wado Ryu, and to a large extent Shito

Ryu.

However, these direct connections between Ko Shang Kun (Kushanku), Sakugawa, and

Matsumura are not crystal clear. Whereas virtually no written records were kept during this period

19

of karate’s development, we have to rely on information that was passed along by oral tradition

from instructor to student over the course of several centuries. As a result of this rather imprecise

method of preserving the past, the stories of these karate pioneers and the individuals from whom

they learned their martial arts are not totally in accord with one another.

While some researchers contend that Tode Sakugawa learned karate from Ko Shang Kun

(Kushanku) [vi], others contend that Mr. Sakugawa traveled to China and learned his martial arts

there. Some researchers contend that Tode Sakugawa was the teacher of Bushi Matsumura.

However, other researchers state that Mr. Matsumura developed his karate from the teachings of

two Chinese martial artists. Ason and Iwah are the two Chinese nationals whose names are

frequently mentioned by researchers as having influenced the karate of Mr. Matsumura, but little

is known of these martial artists or their arts except that they are believed to have come to Okinawa

from Fuzhou, China. It is quite likely that Bushi Matsumura trained under one or both of them.[vii]

Mr. Funakoshi performs the opening move of

Kushanku Kata which is practiced in this lineage

and which was named after Ko Shan Kun [viii]

Out of all of this rather nebulous information,

all that we can conclude with absolute

certainty is that there are too many ifs and too

many missing pieces of the puzzle to make

any completely definitive statements

regarding the earliest Chinese origins of this

lineage. With that caveat noted, all of the

available research still leads us to the

conclusion that both Sakugawa and

Matsumura trained under Chinese martial

artists, and that they developed their karate

based on this training. We may not be

absolutely certain just who these Chinese

martial artists were, but we can be certain that

their training under Chinese martial artists did

in fact take place. Consequently, we can be

certain that this lineage developed from the Chinese martial tradition, and both Kakumi Sakugawa

and Sokon Matsumura can be credited with having input into its development. [ix]

Certainly, virtually every researcher makes mention of Mr. Sakugawa as having, in some way,

influenced this lineage. Moreover, Mr. Sokon Matsumura is the person who all researchers cite as

being the teacher of those men who can be directly traced to several of the styles of traditional

karate-do. Both Mr. Yasutsune Azato and Mr. Yasutsune Ankoh Itosu were students of Mr.

20

Matsumura, and the several styles of Shorin Ryu are traced to these two men. Furthermore, Gichin

Funakoshi trained under both Mr. Azato and Mr. Itosu, and he who took Okinawan karate to the

main islands of Japan. Under Mr. Funakoshi’s direction, Okinawan karate developed into a

Japanese budo (martial way), and at least two styles of modern Japanese karate-do can be traced

to his teachings – Shotokan and to some degree Wado Ryu. There were others who trained under

Mr. Matsumura and who profoundly influenced the development of traditional karate in both

Okinawa and Japan. Two of these men were Mr. Choki Motobu, and Mr. Chotoku Kyan.

LINEAGE TWO – HIGAONNA

The historical research regarding the second of these two lineages of traditional Okinawan karate

is much clearer. This second lineage can be traced to the teachings of Ryu Ryu Ko who taught

martial arts in Fuzhou, China. In1868, Mr. Kanryo Higaonna left Okinawa and arrived in China

in search of a martial arts teacher. There, in this city of southern China, he met Ryu Ryu Ko and

was accepted by him as a student. After about fourteen years of studying the Chinese martial arts

under the tutelage of Ryu Ryu Ko, Mr Kanryo Higaonna returned to Okinawa and established this

karate lineage in his native country. This lineage led to the development of several modern styles

of karate-do. These styles include Goju Ryu, To’on Ryu, and to some extent Shito Ryu.

Kanryo Higaonna (seated 3rd from the left) with some of his students

21

Mr. Higaonna’s most well-known students were Juhatsu Kyoda, Chojun Miyagi, and Kenwa

Mabuni. [x] Of these three men, Juhatsu Kyoda was Mr. Higaonna’s most senior student and

became the founder of the relatively obscure style of To’on Ryu. Chojun Miyagi was Mr.

Higaonna’s second most senior student. He is the person most responsible for preserving,

systematizing, and propagating the teachings of Mr. Higaonna through Goju Ryu. Additionally,

Kenwa Mabuni was a student of both Mr. Higaonna and Mr. Yasutsune Itosu. Mr. Mabuni founded

the style of Shito Ryu which preserved the teachings of both Mr. Higaonna and Mr. Itosu (who

was a student of Mr. Sokon Matsumura).

Furthermore, this lineage of karate was also influenced by another Chinese national who, in this

case, emigrated from Southern China and settled in Okinawa. Wu Xiangui (Go Ken Ki) was a tea

merchant and a martial artist who contributed to the development of this lineage. As was mentioned

earlier in this chapter, he was a member of Karate Kenkyukai – the karate study group which was

dedicated to perpetuating and disseminating Okinawa karate. It is well documented that Wu

Xiangui (Go Ken Ki) influenced the karate that was developed and taught by Juhatsu Kyoda,

Chojun Miyagi, and Kenwa Mabuni. [xi]

Finally, Gogen Yamaguchi is an individual who disseminated the teachings of Mr. Miyagi’s Goju

system not only in Japan but also across the globe. [xii] At one point, the name of Gogen

Yamaguchi became virtually synonymous with Japanese Goju Ryu throughout the world of

karate. Because of these accomplishments, he should be considered to be one to the most

influential promoters of traditional karate in the twentieth century.

It needs to be noted that there are many great individuals who have been omitted from this writing,

and their omission should not be taken to imply that the omitted person and their accomplishments

are in some way unimportant. On the contrary, there are many karate-do masters whose great

accomplishments have gone unmentioned. However, their stories are outside of the scope of this

writing.

Note: I have intentionally not documented this article as I have others. The documentation is

found in the articles on each of the individuals whose names appear in bold type.

[i] Rabson, Steven: Japan Policy Research Institute; JPRI Occasional Paper No. 8 (October 1996) [ii] Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 16

[iii] Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 16

[iv] Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 33

[v] Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, page 33

[vi] Cook, Harry: Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate, pages 15-16

[vii] Nagamine, Shoshin: The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do, page 20

[viii] Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate: page 15 17

[ix] Cook, Harry: Shotokan Karate: page 20 – 22

[x] Higaonna, Morio: The History of Karate: page 24

[xi] McCarthy, Patrick: Bubishi: page 41

[xii] Noble, Graham Dragon Times: Vol. 8; page 28

22

SEIWA KAI HUMOR

Somehow a Black Belt doesn’t seem to mean much anymore.

Baloni Is A

Black Belt In:

Judo, Karate

Jujitsu, Kendo,

Aikido, Iaido

Ninjutsu

Kung Fu,

Krav Maga

Baloni

Teaches

All

Martial

Arts

Competitive Prices

Baloni’s Self-Defense

Come

In

23

Seiwa Kai Seminar New York, New York

Comments by JP Williams

On the weekend of October 17th to 19th, Vassie Naidoo Shihan traveled to New York for the "1st

New York Goju Ryu Karate Do Seiwakai Seminar".

The weekend consisted, of course, of Sanchin and Tensho with Gekisai dai Ichi, Gekesai dai Ni

and Saifa; the building blocks of Gojuryu Karatedo. If you have these five Kata - you've established

the ground work for all the others.

The seminar attendees came from as far as the Wyoming Valley Pennsylvania [a 3.5 hour drive,

the Bronx, and Columbia University. They put in extensive effort and showed true and enthusiastic

East Coast spirit.

Generally speaking, this was a significant seminar due to the history of New York and Goju Ryu

because registered members of various Goju Ryu organizations were greater than 10,000 in the tri-

states area during the 1970's however severely diminished by 1985 and more-so since then, making

Kevin Moskie Sensei a brave trailblazer

In the words of Kevin Moskie Sensei, "Seiwakai has become one of the largest Goju Ryu

organizations in the world. There are many reasons – exceptional leadership, unparalleled

instruction, communication with members, and genuine friendships between teachers, students and

clubs." Well that does sum up Seiwakai generally and I, personally, am happy to see Kevin Moskie

Sensei and his dojo have come on board.

24

Comments by Sean O’Leary Head Instructor, Wyoming Valley

Goju Ryu Karate Academy – Kingston, PA

I have been training in karate-do since I was 10 years old. When I was 12 years old, I was first

introduced to Goju Ryu, and have been a student of it ever since. It is also where I first met Sensei

Kevin Moskie, who I not only consider my senior, but also a dear friend. Currently I’m living in

the Wyoming Valley area of Northeastern Pennsylvania where I teach classes regularly at a local

recreation center; while also continuing to maintain my own training with Sensei Peter, making

trips to the NYC whenever I can.

I have attended training seminars for Goju Ryu as well as other styles, and I have to say that this

was one of the best training experiences I’ve had in a very long time. I am most appreciative for

how Sensei Vassie taught and took the time to illustrate the concepts within everything we were

doing. What stood out most of all to me was how approachable, friendly and down to earth he is.

I’m also very grateful to Sensei Johnpaul, who would be consistently moving about the room each

day, working with every one of us. Truly a great experience! Each of my students, who also came

along, had nothing but good things to say. We each took something very valuable from this

seminar, and look forward to the next one we can come to.

25

LOOKING BACK: JAPAN SEMINAR 2014

By Leo Lipinski

I must apologize for not having provided any report after the annual

seminar in Omagari. The time seems to have run away from me.

The seminar was held over a period of six days, six hours per day

and was extremely well taught by Fujiwara Shihan, President and

Chief Instructor of Seiwakai. Fujiwara Shihan, during the six days

of training covered a large array of Kihon (basics) as well as all the

Kata ranging from Sanchin and Tensho (practiced daily) to the rest

of the Gojuryu Kata from Gekisai Dai Ichi and Dai Ni to

Superimpei. Besides teaching the Kata in great detail, Fujiwara

Shihan accompanied this with a detailed explanation of the Kata

(Bunkai).

The course was attended by nearly 70 persons with people of many

different levels taking part. Fujiwara Shihan made the training enjoyable and beneficial to all.

Quite a lot of time was also spent on pair work to prepare students for kumite. After 3 days we had

a free day which concluded with the annual party. This was much enjoyed by all.

The second three days were

also very intensive. Each

afternoon the students were

separated into groups who

were preparing their kata for

Dan testing. Fujiwara Shihan

and the seniors watched and

helped coach the different

groups.

Testing took place at the

conclusion of the seminar on

Tuesday 22nd July with

students attempting Dan

grades from 1st dan to 6th

Dan. The examiners were

Takahashi Satoru, 8th Dan,

Vassie Naidoo, Paul

Coleman, Des Tuck all 7th

Dan and Abel Figuereido 6th

Dan. Fujiwara Shihan and I

were there in the capacity of

observers.

26

The following day, many from the group in Omagari continued to Sendai to take part in the annual

JKF GOJUKAI seminar for overseas members as well as take part in Gojukai Dan grading. Quite

a few Seiwakai members were in Sendai to take part in the annual Gojukai tournament. As always

Seiwakai members constituted more than 70% of the attendance at the JKF Gojukai seminar.

I recently received the following report from Fujiwara Shihan regarding the JKF GOJUKAI testing

that took place in Sendai in July (2014).: "I am happy that 4 Seiwakai members passed the gradings

(6th-8th dan). Kazuhisa Saito, Stacie Karetsian (Australia) - 6th dan, Masahito Takahashi - 7th

dan, Satoru Takahashi - 8th dan."

Well done to all. I am very proud to be part of a group that is constantly producing high level

karate participants and teachers who challenge the testing process. One thing I learned many years

ago in Japan is that taking a test, whether or not you pass or fail, is a challenge and part of your

ongoing training. In my opinion I feel most Japanese take success or failure in their stride. They

see the challenge as just another part/aspect of their training. A big difference I have noticed

amongst foreign students is the attitude to failure. Many want to give up--and many do give up.

Instead, they should see this as motivation to try and try again and to train even harder to remedy

their faults. A fighter takes the good with the bad and gets up after being knocked down--very

rarely do we start off as winners as competitors. We learn from both failure and success. Both are

training tools. We must keep training until we succeed and if in the long run we don’t pass -- so

what! We have the personal pride of trying and doing our best.

LOOKING FORWARD: SEIWAKAI SEMINAR JAPAN 2015

The dates of both the Seiwa kai Seminar and the JKF Goju Kai Seminar and tournament in 2015

have already been finalized and are listed below.

2015 SEIWAKAI SEMINAR JAPAN (The Seiwakai seminar is open to all.)

Training Omagari, Akita Prefecture Japan

Suggested arrival Omagari 21st July

Wednesday 22nd July – Tuesday 28th July

Training: 10:00am -5 pm

25th July rest day.

2015 JKF GOJUKAI SEMINAR, TESTING & TOURNAMENT

Travel to Oita prefecture (Kyushu), Japan 29th July

30th and 31st JKF Goju Kai Overseas seminar and Dan test

Tournament 1st and 2nd August.

Gymnasium address: 8-37, Aoyama-cho, Beppu-shi, Oita-ken; Beppu synthesis

gymnasium (Beppu arena)

Overseas seminar tournament application deadline, 31st May.

Dan test application deadline, 10th July.